Hello Columbia City

This article was originally published in September 2015

Hello Columbia City

With a large crowd excitedly waiting for the new Columbia City PCC location to open at 9 a.m. on July 24, PCC CEO Cate Hardy ended up cutting the ribbon about 10 minutes early. The staff — many of them recognizable from their years at the Seward Park PCC — were equally energized, and their familiar faces helped customers feel at home as they made their way around the much larger space.

PCC Cooks teachers cooked up bites of fragrant Thai curry in the classroom, while families explored the hot bar, taqueria, salad bar and expanded space in every area. It was a warm welcome from the wonderfully diverse community and felt like a party right up to the moment we closed for the night. Thank you, Columbia City — we’re glad to be here!

Also in this issue

Soil & Sea: reports from our producers

Read about California almond woes, WSU testing a robotic apple picker, the egg shortage that has bakers scrambling, the threat of warm water to local salmon, and more.

Drought hurting PCC farmers

PCC Natural Markets and PCC Farmland Trust farmers all are in trouble from the drought.

Hot trend: raw foods

PCC shoppers are buying raw foods not just because they're made from vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains or beans, but also because they're seeking foods with minimal added sugars, fats and salt. When these foods take the form of berry "Cheesecake," kale chips, or PCC's own Rockin' Raw Kale salad, what's not to love?